The prospector issue 2 - 2015-2016

F RI DAY, O C TO B ER 23, 2015

Planned Parenthood Villainized

Back to the (CHS) Future

Challenging Stereotypes

The Return of the Rowdy Rooters

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

OPINIONS page 4

VOLUME 57 NO. 2

Sports page 11

FLIPSIDE page 12

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Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

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Yearbook leadership changes New yearbook advisor prompts changes in classroom dynamics

JASON MUNOZ

MAITHILEE KANTHI editor-in-chief

JASON MUNOZ photo editor

Following an advisor change, The Nugget staff made the transition from the business room to Room 105, prompting significant readjustment to the operations of Yearbook. For over a decade, Yearbook was housed in Room 314, the spacious business room, which allowed each staffer to have his or her own computer to design, write, and research. However, due to overwhelming time commitments, advisor Jen Townsend handed the reigns over to Carly Stavis in mid-May, 2015.

Unsurprisingly, each advisor brings his or her own personal experience and style to the staff they helm. As an English teacher, Stavis has shifted the focus from just maintaining their awardwinning design to also improving their quality of writing. While in the past, advisors generally provided edits on an article’s final drafts, Stavis has made a habit of checking in with staffers more often and providing individualized feedback. “I bring knowledge of literature and writing, which I think is really useful in terms of copy [editing] because it’s hard to teach that stuff and really give critical feedback without a background in it,” Stavis said.

Additionally, the change in rooms has affected the flow of classroom operations as well. “[Last year] the editors were on one side of the room and the staffers were on another and so cliques just [formed],” said junior Alicia Lee, Editor-in-Chief of the Nugget.. “This year, since we’re in an actual classroom and the computers have to stay so close to the regular staffers, [there are] a lot more interactions going on.”

Since we’re in an actual classroom and the computers stay so close to the regular staffers, [there is] a lot more interaction going on.

- Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Alicia Lee While the more intimate environment offers staffers the opportunity to form a strong team bond, the lack of computers poses a challenge as well. In previous years, staffers, in groups of two or three, collaborated on photos, design, and content. A majority of a staffer’s work, therefore, required unrestricted access to his or her own computer, which was stocked with all the software necessary to create a yearbook. In contrast, the new Yearbook room

currently only has six iMacs lining the back of the classroom, reserved only for editors. “We try to leave those computers available in case anyone ever needs to use them,” said Senior Anisa Chaudry, the photo editor. “We sometimes use chromebooks, but we can’t design on those, so the staffers haven’t had much practice in using the design skills we taught them.”

However, Stavis has requested the use of individual laptops for her staff, which will arrive in the near future, allowing each staffer access to his or her own laptop with which they will create their spreads. Until then, regular staffers are responsible for writing the articles while editors are in charge of designing the spreads. In the meantime, Lee is focused on improving the content that staffers produce and preparing them for the design they are inevitably going to be asked to make. Said Lee, “We’re trying to schedule trips to Ms. Townsend’s room so the whole staff could actually learn design because they’ll need it when we get laptops in the class.

Despite the difficulties brought on by the lack of computers for the staff, Lee notes that the quality of the yearbook will not suffer because both Stavis and the editors are committed to bringing fresh perspectives to the traditional format of the book.

Said Stavis, “I brought an openness and a willingness to try new

Yearbook changes, continued on page 2

United Nations unveils agenda for sustainable development ETHAN QI photo assjstant

ALEX SHIEH online assistant

On Sept. 25, 2015, the General Assembly formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with the intention of amending the shortcomings of the previous goals, with a focus on the root cause of problems, an emphasis on climate change, and a pledge to leave no one behind.

Over two years of intensive public discussions and engagement with civil societies around the world have yielded an Agenda which consists of 17 global goals and 169 targets for the next 15 years. These goals are focused on resolving global issues such as extreme poverty, inequality, injustice, and sustainable development in its three dimensions – the economy, society, and environment. The sustainable goals consist of zero hunger, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, climate action, peace and justice strong institutions, and many others.

Despite the Sustainable Goals’ potential and symbolic significance, many find the Goals to be too broad and unattainable to serve any tangible purpose.

Said Junior Anshul Rajwanshi, “[I think] the Sustainable Goals are divergent in the fact that they are very good as an overarching premise of what the UN should do, but they’re also very exhausted. [However,] I feel like they don’t actually accomplish much since they don’t call for any action.”

Still, some people believe that the goals are necessary. Explained U.N. Club advisor Jacob Douglas, “Having them is better than not having them, but what would be even better than that is having more goals that are measurable, specific, [and] result based, so that we can really measure how much progress we’re making.”

In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly created the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which rallied the world to fight against poverty and featured a 15-year agenda.

Yet, 15 years later, to this day, widespread poverty still re

UN development goals, continued on page 2

COURTESY OF CTBTO PHOTOSTREAM

SECRETARY GENERAL | United Nations Secretary General

Ban-Ki Moon describes the development goals as “a promise by leaders to all people everywhere. It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms –– an agenda for the planet, our common home.” Moon is a graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government COURTESY OF YERPO AND WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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News The Prospector

S TA F F 2015-2016

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVII, No. 2 | 2015 editors-in-chief maithilee kanthi brian zhong news editor meilinda sun opinions editor shalmali patil features editor stephanie shi

The Prospector

Yearbook changes

sports editor peter martin flip side editor melissa silva copy editors daniel fertelmeister delanie medina rishi nair anirudh pai photo editors jason muñoz jeremy xue online editors michelle pyke jay shroff business manager mark wang news assistants

ethan qi amy zeng

opinions assistants

sudarshan kannan saagar sanghavi

features assistants

josephine robinson erin song

lifestyles assistants

aishwarya laddha jennifer zaratan

sports assistant

mark wang

flip side assistant

caroline gee

online assistants photo crew

allison lo lily marvin alex shieh catherine seok adviser ann peck

Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

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UN development goals

continued from page 1

things that the staff hasn’t done before or that the book hasn’t done before and to encourage the kids to explore those things that they maybe haven’t even seen.” “[The editors] had a lot of new ideas that I never even thought would be possible in our yearbook. I’m seeing a lot of new changes in the book already,” Lee adds. “I can’t say any specifics, but how it’s organized will be very different. We’re stepping out of our comfort zone. We also have senior quotes this year, which is new.”

One of these changes is the addition of senior quotes to The Nugget.

Announced on September 22, The Nugget invited seniors to send original quotes below 170 characters to be published at the bottom of senior-specific pages. Following popular demand for years, Lee describes the evolution of senior quotes in the yearbook. Said Lee, “Last year we had this thing called ACD which was a bar at the bottom of every page full of information we got from different surveys. So [I thought], how about we just do that for certain pages and just put the quotes on those kind of bars?”

While Stavis exercises considerable authority over The Nugget and contributes much critique, she encourages the staff to experiment creatively. “Ultimately, I’m not the one that leads the way in terms of what we do each day because that’s the role of the staff. I get to be the person that gives feedback and critiques. I’m here to advise people as to how to be a journalist and how to do this job,” Stavis said.

lifestyles editor isabel lin

October 23, 2015

continued from page 1

mains a major issue. According to the United Nations, billions of people today live in poverty and are denied a life of dignity. Together with poverty, countless issues including high unemployment rates, gender inequality, global health threats, resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change are still pervasive threats to much of the global population.

As a result, some argue that 15 years is too short a period to accomplish a goal as ambitious as eradicating poverty and MDG as opponents have call the MDGs too lofty and unattainable. “[Instead of] having [the goals be] so broad and general and then setting a specific time frame [...] I think it would make sense to set those as overall areas of focus, even for the next century,” said Douglas. “[The goals] still provide the overall vision for what we want to achieve but it gives us something more manageable and more realistic so that we can tell, 10 years in, 15 years in, [if] we are on track for what we want to do and what can we do better.”

While the world is at a time of risk, it is also at a time of opportunities, and large problems demand comprehensive change. Accepted by all countries around the world, undeveloped and developing countries alike, the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development serves as an attempt to achieve the betterment and unification of tomorrow’s world.

NEWS BRIEFS

President Barack Obama is permitting the 9,800 troops currently in Afganishtan to remain there until after the 2016 deadline. He believes that the troops are necessary to combat the growing Taliban presence in the region. With the end of NATO operations last December, the Taliban have increased their attacks in the country.

Obama also believes that the U.S. should combat the stigma associated with American troops.

Former U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert has been charged with federal misconduct as he attempted to cover up a sexual harassment case with federal money. He allegedly withdrew hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay a woman who charged Hastert with sexually abusing her brother. Hastert’s lawyer has not yet said what accounts for which he is being charged, but Hastert has agreed to a plea deal.

Tesla has recently published a new software update – autopilot mode, which allows the driver to “‘automatically steer down the highway, change lanes, and adjust speed in response to traffic.’” However, the driver cannot abdicate responsibility yet, even though Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, believes it will happen and contends that this new feature will be incredibly useful and revolutionary.

While there has been a myriad of reporting on the controversial elephant ivory market, there is an emerging type of trade based around the helmeted hornbill. The hornbill has held extremely lucrative prices in the underground market, over three times as much as those of elephant ivory.

With a strong cultural significance, the locals believe killing the bird is taboo; thus, if action is not taken, the bird will soon become extinct.

Contrary to popular belief, the world is still contaminated with the black plague, a disease that riddled the middle ages, which is lethal to multiple individuals per year. The disease, which is generally transmitted by fleas, has a sixty percent mortality rate if left untreated and still affects around 15 people per year. While the count is low, the danger is high as the disease is classified as a “category A bioweapon.”

As the food industry is experiencing new levels of growth, food workers have admitted that more workers are still going to work regardless. Over 45 percent of workers end up going to work anyway because they cannot afford to miss the already small amount of pay. In Philadelphia, studies have shown that over a third of workers have failed to take sick leave as they feared retaliation from their bosses.

COMPILED BY ANIRUDH PAI

Volkswagen evades emissions regulations JAY SHROFF online editor

In September 2015, German auto manufacturer Volkswagen (VW) was found to have been using “defeat devices,” software that could cheat an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions test, in over 11 million diesel automobiles across the world. The news broke just after VW surpassed Toyota as the largest manufacturer of cars worldwide, producing about 10 million vehicles in 2014 alone. These devices violated the Clean Air Act of 1963 — they enabled cars to emit 40 times the legal amount of nitrogen oxide pollutants allowed in the United States. When the cars were tested for emission efficiency, these defeat devices lowered the engine power and effectively lowered the emissions for testing.

As a result, nearly 500,000 Volkswagen automobiles in the United States have been recalled.

The EPA is able to fine Volkswagen $37,500 for each vehicle recalled — a total of $18 billion. The scandal has caused Volkswagen’s stock prices to plummet, causing outcry among shareholders and CEO Martin Winterkorn’s resignation.

The “defeat device” — attached to one of the many pieces of software on the car — is tailored to the aspects of an EPA test, such as steering wheel pressure, tire rotation speed compared to wind speed through the grille, and other parameters to determine when to increase efficiency and reduce performance. However, when it senses that the car vehicle is not in a test, the device turns off, allowing better performance at the cost of higher nitrogen oxide exhausts.

Lawyers across the United States — including in California, where the device was found — are gearing up for large class-action lawsuits that

11 million

COMPILED BY AMY ZENG

diesal cars equipped with defeat device Volkswagen faces fines up to

$18 billion

After tests, Volkswagen cars were pumping

40 times

as many pollutants as the law permitted

1 out of 10

passenger cars sold worldwide are from Volkswagen

SOURCES: FUSION, THE GUARDIAN, THE TELEGRAPH

could reimburse consumers billions of dollars.

Volkswagen has set aside $7.3 million dollars to cover the cost of repairs and suits, but in theory, the EPA itself could fine the carmaker $18 billion dollars for the massive number of affected cars.

Meanwhile, the scandal has greatly affected the VW dealers in the United States, who were ordered to stop all sales of VW cars until a solution is found to remove or disable the devices while maintaining the same high performance and low emissions. At the same time, European Union (EU) nations are now examining the emissions of other diesel vehicles, including other European brands such as Mercedes Benz and Renault (owner of Nissan USA).

Consumer’s disappointment in the scandal was apparent as stock prices plummeted following VW’s public press release. VW shares dropped 17% since the release and are continuing to drop while the manufacturer halts car production. Similarly, shares of Mercedes Benz, BMW and Renault have dropped 5-10% as well, citing consumer’s distrust with European carmakers.

For owners of the affected cars, the results are disorienting. Many have flocked to local dealers for answers, but the dealers are still waiting for a recall order from the headquarters in Germany. Many are also lining up to sell their cars, because the resale value may continue to drop until the problem is solved. Before the scandal, VW diesel vehicles normally had a premium resale when compared to the gasoline models due to their higher performance and better gas mileage; now many are worried that the fix will erode that premium value and reduce the performance of the vehicle. However, Kelley Blue Book advises owners to hold on to their cars until the problem is solved.

3 PSAT moved to a school day and prompted schedule changes October 23, 2015

JENNIFER ZARATAN lifestyles assistant

Opting for Saturdays in previous years, the College Board made the decision this year to offer schools the PSAT only on Wednesdays, consequently causing an interference with class times. Ensuing disputes arose about the College Board’s rationale behind the change. The preliminary SAT, also called the PSAT/ NMSQT, is taken by the majority of sophomores and juniors on track for applying to colleges. The school administration planned a special schedule for the designated school day, in which each class was shortened by twenty minutes.

The College Board mandated the switch in hopes of encouraging more students to take the test. Since students would be coming to school anyway, the change would eliminate any concerns of conflicting activities or transportation. For the many students who have commitments on weekends, the switch to schooldays certainly removes a burden.

Said sophomore Eresa Lee, “On Saturdays I have tutoring, so having the PSAT on a school day would help. [But] I think if it couldn’t be moved, it would be okay [to skip tutoring].”

In academically competitive schools like Cupertino, the switch seems to do little to enable students who otherwise could not take the PSAT to participate in the test; students such as Lee still prioritize the PSAT enough to miss their other commitments.

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Said Assistant Principal Melina Nafrada, “We haven’t seen a huge increase in the students that registered for it because it’s on a Wednesday […] The last three years we’ve went up approximately fifty more students from the year before, and I think that probably just speaks more to the size of our school growing rather than more kids taking it.”

I don’t think it’s really equitable for the entire school schedule to get rearranged for a test that is optional [...] I don’t know how well [students are] going to be functioning after taking the PSAT. - 3D Design Teacher Jo Vadeboncoeur While the College Board’s new policy intends to increase test taker turnout by making the timings more convenient for students, the switch seems bothersome to many staff members.

Said 3D Design teacher Jo Vadeboncoeur, “I don’t think it’s really equitable for the entire school schedule to get rearranged for a test that is one, optional, two, the students that are taking it they have to pay for it, and three it’s not a test that every student

News

would be taking. We get a lot done on block days […] I don’t know how well students are going to be functioning after taking the PSAT, because when I proctored it, the kids were […] drained afterwards.”

Furthermore, the consensus among teachers is that the College Board seems to be exercising more control than appropriate.

Many were surprised the College Board could compel schools to coordinate changes in accommodation of the PSAT. Said Principal Kami Tomberlain, “To rebel against [the College Board’s decision] would’ve required some definite coordinated response from school districts all over the country. To do that as […] even an individual district would’ve put our students [who wanted to take the PSAT] in too much of a bind.”

To furhter resentment, the College Board financial statements imply a less-than altruistic motive. Despite its exemption from taxes as a nonprofit, according to its 2014 IRS form 990, total revenue was more than 840 million dollars; about 332 million of that was profit from tests like the PSAT. Implementing its new policy without discussion with school districts first, is suspected by school officials to be another strategy for profit and not in the interest of students.

An easily accessible PSAT is indeed a genuine benefit of the switch, but many find the new College Board policy questionable under the belief that the College Board ought not wield so much power over schools. Nonetheless, the College Board is planning to offer the PSAT on Saturdays again next year.

Classes change online deadlines amid parent concerns JOSEPHINE ROBINSON flipside assistant

It is no secret that in order to complete and perfect their essays, many students decide to stay up until the early hours of the morning. In doing so, they come to school sleep-deprived for the next day of class. So, in a broader effort to alleviate sleepdepression and, in effect, stress among students, many teachers, in conjunction with the PTA, have decided to change the deadlines for turnitin essay submissions from 7:35 a.m. the day the assignment is due to 12 a.m. or earlier the night before. Most, if not all, teachers use Turnitin to check students’ essays for originality and timeliness. The new deadline policy was put in effect this school year and impacts most history and english classes across all grade levels.

The decision to change the deadlines stems from parent

complaints that students were staying up too late to finish essays. Said Stacey Jahnig, the teacher representative at PTSA meetings, “At the [PTSA] meeting, parents voiced their concerns about the time that Turnitin was open for students to submit their essays, and I brought that concern to the English department.”

Added Susan Rocha, the English department chair, “For the English [department], the teams make their own decision for policies regarding Turnitin deadlines, depending when the assessments are. We did have a discussion about it after we heard from the PTA that there were concerns about the 7 a.m. deadline [but] we as a department could not reach a consensus.

So we let the teachers individually make deadlines” While the new deadline policy intends to benefit students, the policy still has its critics. Many students have extra-curricular activities immediately after school, which cause some to

start homework and essays several hours later. Said junior Anna Rajaratnam, “I definitely think that it will impact students’ lives negatively as it gives us more stress. People who have sports during the day should be able to finish their homework at night, but with the new deadline, I have to take time out of my practice to finish something that should be due the next morning.”

Yet many believe the new deadline will prevent procrastination. Said English teacher Olga Fostiy, “The new deadline benefits the students in the sense that student will be more encouraged to finish their essays earlier. However, for the students who prefer to work in the later hours of the night or like to wake up early because they function better in the morning, it wouldn’t benefit them.”

Since the deadline change still in its experimental stages, it is not yet permanent., and the full effects of this policy can only be observed over the course of the coming months.

Opinions

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October 23, 2015

THE VILLAiNIZATION OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD DELANIE MEDINA copy editor

Anti-abortion politicians are in an uproar over doctored videos that supposedly show Planned Parenthood representatives negotiating on prices for tissue from aborted fetuses even though the practice of selling fetal tissue for research is legal. Naturally, conservative Republicans across the country have taken the opportunity to attack and vilify the organization, many even going as far as proposing to defund it at the national level. However, despite the negative publicity, public opinion regarding Planned Parenthood has remained unchanged since July, when the first round of videos targeting the women’s health organization were released. An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 47 percent of Americans view Planned Parenthood in a positive light, meaning that the organization has one of the highest approval ratings of any U.S. entity. Despite the steady public support, the extreme negative backlash the organization has received from conservative Republicans has caused damage that will undoubtedly have a catastrophic impact on the women who benefit from Planned Parenthood’s services.

While defunding Planned Parenthood would surely limit access to abortions across the country, women would undoubtedly find unsafe alternatives to terminate their unwanted pregnancies, as was the case before Roe v. Wade when women were getting abortions at unprecedented rates.

According to Republicans, there are 13,000 communitybased organizations that provide health services to women and would be able to take over Planned Parenthood’s responsibilities. On paper, it seems reasonable that these clinics might be able to take 3% were only s n io t r on Planned o Ab oo ds d Parenth Parenthood’s of Planne 2014 2.7 million services in patients if governments, state or federal, decide to defund the organization. However, researchers have found that when Planned Parenthood clinics close, other clinics do SOURCE: PPFA not step in to take on the extra

work. With fewer reproductive health clinics available, women lose access to reproductive health care, so, while many politicians believe that women can “go somewhere else” if the clinics close, they are mistaken. Higher-income women would still have access to comparable alternatives, but a sizable minority of Planned Parenthood’s patients are low-income women who would lose access to crucial medical services. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that if Congress were to defund the group, up to 25 percent of the organization’s clients would lose access to care. Planned Parenthood exists in many places where other family planning clinics don’t – a new analysis from the Guttmacher Institute estimates that there are 103 counties in the United States where Planned Parenthood is the only provider of publicly funded contraceptives.

Planned Parenthood plays a big role in women’s reproductive health care, often serving a higher number of patients than other health-care providers. Over one-third of low-income women who get birth control through Title X, the only federal program dedicated to funding family planning, do so at one of Planned Parenthood’s 817 clinics. While Title X does not fund abortions, organizations like Planned Parenthood often use its grants to subsidize birth control, STD screenings, and other reproductive health services for patients who may lack basic health insurance coverage. Cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood means reducing access to birth control, a crucial drug that reduces unplanned pregnancies.

In the more than 40 years since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion, women’s rights have taken a turn for the worse. Increasingly, members of Congress have attacked a woman’s right to choose and, unfortunately, they have been winning. If Congress continues to attack Planned Parenthood’s on the basis that they are acting immorally by selling aborted fetuses, there is no doubt that the women of America will suffer. Despite 46% o f th the egregious e m o n ey t h a mischaracterizat Plan n ed P arenth oo tion, Planned d uses co m es fro m govern Parenthood conm ent tinues to provide f u n d in g crucial services using funds that are at risk of being defunded. Although public opinion regarding women’s right has not faltered, their access to basic health care has.

It’s crucial that, in times such as these, more is done to protect women rather than attack their natural rights.

SOURCE: NPR

planned parenthood

Sanders’ policies are impractical SUDARSHAN KANNAN opinions assistant

On Sept. 20, the Red Hot Chili Peppers gave Bernie Sanders perhaps his most significant political endorsement, announcing that “We – the undersigned artists, musicians, and cultural leaders of America – are excited to endorse a new vision for our country. It’s a vision that pushes for a progressive economic agenda ... We endorse Bernie Sanders to become the 2016 Democratic Nominee for President of the United States of America.”

But is this really true? Sure, Bernie Sanders symbolizes to many Americans a brighter and more prosperous future, perhaps even a future without poverty. However, when people begin to question the viability of his policies, in particular his war on poverty, it can clearly be seen that such policies are unsustainable and even implausible. According to the Wall Street Journal, Bernie Sanders’ proposals are to cost an estimated $18 trillion over the next ten years. First, though, let’s put that in per-

“Bernie Sanders’ proposals are to cost an estimated $18 trillion over the next ten years.”

spective. The annual GDP (gross domestic product) of the United States is $16.77 trillion, and the total public debt stands at an approximately $18.15 trillion. Some of the largest components of this proposal include an expansion of Medicare as a $15 trillion single payer healthcare system for all Americans, $1.2 trillion for Social Security, and a college affordability program costing $750 billion. For a plethora of reasons, “unrealistic” and “detrimental” are accurate words to describe Bernie Sanders’ policies.

First, what does this $18 trillion dollars even mean? Essentially, this means that there will be a dramatic increase in government spending, which is harmful for long-term economic growth. For the last few decades, government spending has been at about 20 percent of GDP. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, if Bernie Sanders’ proposals were to be implemented, government spending would increase to 30 percent of GDP in his first year alone. Clearly, this is detrimental to the American economy, as such a large increase in government spending would harm long-term economic growth or stunt it all together. According to Kevin Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute, putting this much money into government and social benefit programs reduces the ability for corporations and private entities to invest. Economic growth and job creation, for instance, would originate less from the private sector, but rather from the government, which would slow down the economy.

Furthermore, Bernie Sanders proposes to fund his endeavors by taxing the rich, a simply unviable method of financing a project of this size. Proposing increases in capital gains tax, estate tax, and income tax, Sanders is directing his taxation spree at those who earn $250,000 or above. However, it is critical that voters understand that such a method of financing would not work. Clearly, Sanders is hoping to transform the American economic model into a system resembling those of Scandinavian nations. However, Sanders overlooks the fact that such an endeavor cannot be financed by increasing taxes on the rich alone, but on the middle class as well, as most Scandinavian countries have higher taxes on people in lower income brackets. Such proposals are inconsistent with the traditional relationship between government and the economy in America and do not fit in with the current American economic model. In addition, financial experts and businesspeople would be highly opposed to such policies that harm their potential for economic growth, setting themselves up as powerful obstacles that could sway key players in Congress.

Overall, Bernie Sanders’ policies are simply unrealistic, as they are far too expensive, are unlikely to pass Congress, are ill-planned out, and are harmful to the economy in the long-run.

SOURCE: WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Prospector

October 23, 2015

ANIMAL ABUSE IN THE NAME OF ENTERTAINMENT

Opinions

5

EDITORIAL CARTOON

SHALMALI PATIL opinions editor

It goes without saying that animals are used countless times in various forms intended to bring amusement to their human counterparts.

Animal use for amusement is prevalently seen in zoos, circuses, contests, rides, and sport among countless other mediums. It’s hard to believe that the same animals who perform playful tricks for the amusement of young children could therefore be facing severe depression and physical weakness as a result of it. The momentary joy that these forms of animal amusement might bring to humans is simply not worth the emotional, physical and mental strain that it puts on innocent animals.

There are countless marine parks throughout the United States that display the numerous “talents” of its captives and call on them to jump, splash and sing everyday to please the park attendees.

But the simple act of bringing the animal into the park can be emotionally devastating as it can call for an emotionally tormenting separation from its family. While the intricacy and elegance of the marine mammals’ abilities are pleasing and spectacular, separating them from their environment can be detrimental to the mental and physical well-being of the animals. The confined cages can drive animals to the brink of madness and cause them to harm and threaten their fellow prisonmates as seen when Nakai in Marineland lost a chunk of flesh following a confrontation with other orcas.

Two years after the release of Blackfish, a documentary depicting the harsh and unnatural treatment of orcas held in SeaWorld and much criticism from animal right’s groups, the amusement park released an ad campaign called Ask SeaWorld. Despite the evidence that these print and online ads present, they fail to account several factors into their calculations. While an orca in SeaWorld might live for almost the same length of time as orcas in the wild, the oras’ quality of life is largely neglected.

The cages used at Seaworld are a sharp contrast from the animals’ natural habitat and can also inflict harm on their inhabitants. Countries such as Chile, India and Brazil have either banned the confinement of marine mammals or put severe restrictions on the practice. It’s about time America did the same.

It seems as though the main argument against ridding the world of animal-based entertainment is that these animals are important to educate the public about animals and the environment around them. But quite frankly, there is absolutely nothing educational about watching defenseless creatures drift further and further into depression, also known as zoochosis. There are multiple videos of animals that maddeningly pace their cages in a chaotic and desperate manner that prove that no education is worth the despair of a living creature.

Equally as common as animal use in amusement parks is their use in sports. These cruel sports include bullfighting, cockfighting, horse, and dog racing. Bullfighting holds the same cultural significance to Spain as rodeos have to America, especially since they both torment and exploit the vulnerability of defenseless animals. Spanish traditions of bullfighting and running of the bulls both involve significant torment to the bull before entering the public eye and both result in the killing of all the bulls. Despite the cultural importance, traditions are not meant to be adhered to completely.

As many people are beginning to recognize the cruelty of this sport, the attendance at these stadiums have dropped by 40% from 2008 to 2013 and still continues dropping. Although the a newer form of Portuguese “bloodless” bullfighting is becoming increasingly more and more prevalent, the practice still results in massive physical blood loss; however, the tradition has been changing as various parts of Spain and Mexico have placed legislation banning cruel forms of entertainment, an example of what the other parts of the world should adopt.

As exciting as seeing animals up close may be, the negative impact that it has on the mental health and well-being of animals is not worth the few minutes of joy it may bring. Fighting against these types of animal abuse is fairly easy. No amount of happiness that animal-based entertainment brings can justify the torment, abuse and stress that the involved animals face.Avoiding circuses, zoos, exhibitions, sporting events and marine parks is an effective way to avoid further encouraging the idea that animals can be exploited for entertainment.

SOURCE: PETA

Dolphins in captivity live 1/4 of they life they would in the wild.

Bullfighting is popular throughout the world, not just Spain.

Dogfighting and cockfighting still exist despite being illegal in the U.S.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

HURTS FREEDOM OF SPEECH MEILINDA SUN news editor

Earlier this year, college professor Edward Schlosser wrote in a Vox article titled “I’m a liberal professor, and my liberal students terrify me,” that he often finds it difficult to engage in meaningful classroom discussion with students whose minds have been coddled for far too long. Schlosser decries his students’ for their unwillingness to engage in conversation involving ideas which may make them feel uncomfortable.

Unofficial censorship is not unique to Schlosser’s university: In 2014, a pro-life student group at Oxford University organized an abortion debate between two men. The debate was shut down. The University of New Hampshire recently published a “Bias-Free Language Guide”, which stated that the word “America” was politically incorrect because it did not include South America.

These incidents are ridiculous, and the rise of the nouveau-“silencing” movement has merely proved that political correctness is, in many instances, killing free speech.

Students today –– compared with those of previous generations –– are sheltered by often overbearing parents. They are constantly protected from the pervasive and lethal horrors of the outside world: baby-nappers, junk food, drugs, and public transportation. An unfortunate side effect of this phenomenon, however, is that not only are these students sheltered from mundane dangers, but also that they are sheltered from controversial ideas. As a result, they become intolerant of viewpoints which do not align with those of the liberal doctrine.

After helping to shut down the abortion debate at Oxford University, Niamh McIntyre wrote in the UK’s Independent, “I asserted that [the debate] would make me feel threatened in my own university.” This belief is echoed by members of the increasingly intolerant –– that everyone has a right to feel comfortable.

But learning is uncomfortable. People adopt a set of political and moral beliefs which generally endures throughout their lives. When someone presents an opinion which challenges a longstanding assumption, however, people are forced to rethink their perceptions of the world. Such a feeling is indeed uncomfortable. Yet, being uncomfortable is critical to learning because this sentiment, while often unpleasant, brings us closer to the truth.

UC Berkeley students petitioned to stop Bill Mahler, a conservative commentator, from speaking at their graduation because his “public statements on various religions and cultures are offensive” and his rhetoric is “dangerous.” While one can certainly debate the merits of Bill Mahler’s commentary, the growing censorship movement is just as dangerous.

As a center-right student in a predominantly liberal school, I often find it difficult to share my beliefs and reasoning while eschewing labels such as “bigoted” and “ignorant.” I admit that to a certain extent, I am ignorant –– we all are. But the only way to reconcile political beliefs and moral frameworks is to discuss them, even if debates become heated arguments and talking evolves into shouting. Even if the rhetoric is racist, sexist, or blatantly incorrect, shutting these people up does nothing to change minds.

While all are endowed with the right to free speech (legally), unofficial censors and silencing mechanisms block meaningful and productive discussion which is often key to our understanding of the world. In our humanities classes teachers employ socratic seminars, debate, and discussion because these mediums are key to gaining new insights. That a book marginalizes students of various cultures and glorifies horrifying institutions should not be a reason to ban it. Rather, instead of refusing to acknowledge the wrongs of the past, we need to create an open society –– one in which students of all cultures with diverse religious, political, and moral beliefs, can come together. Such is the truly open society we all desire.

Features 1953

The first 5.732 acres of land are acquired.

1955

1958

Marty McFly is transported to 1955 without plutonium for the return trip.

1970

1963

The school opens to students on Sept. 15, 1958.

5.732

October 23, 2015

The Vietnam War Memorial, donated by the class of 1967, is added to the east quad of campus.

The first powderpuff game is played, in which girls play football while boys cheer.

1957

1961

Ground is broken, marking the beginning of the development of the land that would become the school.

COURTESY OF WES MORSE

1964 The first Homecoming court is selected.

Homecoming was originally celebrated on the Fremont High School campus.

COURTESY OF WES MORSE

IN MEMO

The famous Beach Boys visits the school and plays a concert.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

A LOOK AT CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH THE YEARS

STUDENT CULTURE ERIN SONG

BRIAN ZHONG

ISABEL LIN lifestyles editor

editor-in-chief

Beneath the colorful balloon arches and overhead decorations, students cheer and chant, sparking a contagious energy that pervades throughout the crammed bleachers. Running through the student body is one common thread: school spirit.

Today, school spirit is most commonly associated with rallies that feature group dances, skits, and hand-painted posters; however, CHS rallies were quite different in the past. For one, rallies were mandatory. Ms. Susan Rocha, a 1991 CHS graduate and current CHS teacher, commented, “Rallies are loud now, but it was pretty crazy [back then] … you couldn’t even hear anything.” According to Rocha, rallies also used to encourage more participation from students in the stands, and featured fewer organized dances. Said Rocha, “There were usually eating competitions where you would be blindfolded before eating something as fast as you could.” Students at rallies were also directly involved in activities like relay races.

For homecoming, students created homecoming-themed “scenes” that students were able M S WE COU RTESY OF to walk through during an extended brunch.

Rocha recounted, “One year, we had a Disneyland theme, so each scene was a different Land. For instance, one scene was Tomorrowland, so there would be aliens…” Rocha added that she most enjoyed the actual rally preparations. “The best experience was practicing, staying late decorating, and coming together [with my N SO JA class] to create something [amazing],” expressed Rocha.

Another popular past CHS tradition was freshman hazing.

While students today may be shocked to learn of freshman hazing, Rocha attested to its prevalence during her high school years. Said Rocha, “I was in the band, so during homecoming I was covered in lipstick by all the upperclassmen. When I was on varsity basketball as a freshman, I also got attacked with water balloons.” Rocha, however, was quick to add, “For the most part, it was good-natured hazing.”

Though school traditions have certainly changed a lot, Rocha regards the change positively. “I think a lot of things have changed for the better and are [now] more organized. I’m happy that we [now] have new traditions.” Indeed, CHS traditions are bound to continue evolving with every new generation of students. However, one thing will remain constant: a love and pride for Tino.

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As difficult as it is to imagine, the city of Cupertino has not always been the fast paced area that it is today. From the neverending openings of new pearl milk tea shops to the rapid growth in the technology sector, it is safe to say that Cupertino has certainly changed from the small local town it once was. English teacher Nikki Merrick, who graduated from the school in 1988, recounts the atmosphere of school life in Cupertino before it underwent its steady but dramatic metamorphosis.

Merrick noted that a major change regarding the atmosphere of the school (now twice the size that it was thirty years ago) is the growing emphasis on academics and preparation for college, and as a result an evident increase in stress levels for students. “Students seem to be under more academic pressure and stress, especially in regard to getting into college,” Merrick said.

The relatively lower levels of academic pressure thirty years ago also allowed students to be more involved in school activities such as sports games, homecoming celebrations, and dances. Noted Merrick, “[There’s] more of a narrow spectrum of students who either has the time to go or is allowed to go to participate in [school events].”

Despite the admittedly more academically-oriented environment that the school has adopted, Merrick notes that the school atmosphere has also become more welcoming to fellow students. Merrick recalls one year in which the senior class held a sleepover at the quad the night before the first day of school and held up threatening posters in front of the new freshmen while dressed in camouflage. Said Merrick, “It was an intimidating way for a group of 13 and 14 year old kids to start school.”

Senior pranks would also be more destructive, including driving a golf cart into the school swimming pool and smearing fish oil over the lockers.

From the new student population of over 2000 to librariesturned-social corners, the changes that the school has undergone has certainly created an entirely new city of Cupertino.

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SCHOOL SPIRIT

FUN FACT:

Seniors who had taken sc eligible to go on the Ba students travelled to Bah miles south of Tijuana). was discontinued in 1987.

INFORMATION FROM CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL: A

1978

The first Hall of Fame ceremony is held.

Outstanding alumni are honored at a school-wide rally. The Hall of Fame rally is held every other year.

1985

Marty McFly meets “Doc” Brown, predecessing a series of events that would change McFly’s life.

1974

SPORTS

AISHWARYA LADDHA

BRIAN ZHONG

lifestyles assistant

editor-in-chief

SE

People conjure up images of short shorts and Michael Jordan when they envision sports in the 1980s. However, they often times neglect the commonalities that make sports such a universal appeal.

Karen Hsu, class of 1990, reminisces about her experiences playing sports during high school: “When I was at ‘Tino, our men’s basketball team was really good. And we often went deep into CCS. I thought the entire school got into it. We had great turnouts at the games.”

Hsu also attests to the spirit and unity that athletics brought to campus. “I think it’s always fun to be part of a common cause,” Hsu said. “It helps when your clubs or teams have success of course, but I always felt like it was fun, and created cohesiveness and camaraderie [within the student body].”

J a m e s Gilmore, a Physical E W OF Education teacher SY E RT COU and golf and football coach, notices how athletics have become secondary to academics and the arts. “I like to think of academics, athletics, and the arts as a threeway triangle; neither should be placed too high above the others. But now, the community has pushed for a stronger emphasis on academics, and athletics in this school has become a lesser valued activity, which is something I hope that will change.”

Gilmore also recognizes a greater demand for individual, rather than team, sports. “It’s easier for students to schedule practices for individual sports around all of their other activities and classes, so I am seeing more people participate in sports such as badminton and tennis, and less on sports like football.”

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There was a time at school when conducting marriage ceremonies was a regular occurrence as part of a class curriculum, a time when classes such as Accounting and Creative Writing were commonplace in the schedules of students. A series of small changes in the course selection, made over the span of many years, has produced the class options that are offered today.

One of the most notable disappearances of classes is that of Marriage and Family; this class focused on preparing seniors for their future by teaching them basic life skills that would be applicable into their daily lives following their graduation. Students simulated getting married, divorcing, raising a ‘baby’, and renting an apartment. “My father taught [Marriage and Family]. So when I was a kid I would go to [. . .] the weddings ceremonies,” said Michele Avvakumovits, who herself has spent 24 years on the CHS staff. lieves that students join Academic classes have as well undergone many changes. mpus to gain a comFor example, more science classes are now offered; AP over others. Noted Physics and AP Computer Science were only added ular clubs on camas classes in the last five years. The History and Engs and competitive lish Departments have progressed with class selection, y students are ofthe biggest change being the shift from semester based n.” classes to year long classes. Seniors also had a third reiterate the benoption to fulfill their history requirement, Psychology. gamut of student Said Avvakumovits, “Some students would choose to oday] strike me as do Government and Psychology [while others] would ersity, Hsu observed. choose to do Government and Econ. But then [the school] CO URT E to find others that share S changed graduation requirements [requiring] Economics to ESY OF WES MOR er, students are engaging in be taken by all Seniors.” The English department used to conduct outside of school so it’s not surprissemester classes such as Basic Oral Communication, a class focused on e from.” speech delivery, Humanities, a literature class with an emphasis on art resence of clubs in student’s lives history, and even Mythology. mpus as a whole.”

As a counselor and former teacher, Avvakumovits noted how teaching styles at Cupertino have evolved. “[In the past], teachers [spent] a lot of time trying to put together creative lessons but did not necessarily check for students understandings,” Avvakumovits explained. “More cience all four years were and more teachers are now giving opportunities to retake tests or revise aja Senior trip, in which essays [...] There has been a big movement in the last three years [...] hia de Los Angeles (410 giving students the opportunity to revise or revisit and relearn.”Perhaps Unfortunately, the trip in the next decade, the course selection offered today and the way class7. es are run will be considered obsolete as CHS continues to grow and A HISTORY BY WES MORSE develop.

COMPILED BY STEPHANIE SHI INFORMATION FROM CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL: A HISTORY BY WES MORSE

JASON MUÑOZ

ACADEMICS

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dditional item to add to a resume, oses. Karen Hsu, class of 1990, reubs as a high school student: “We dset] too but I think it’s even more y and so more clubs are popping up he opportunity to engage.” r Carissa Ko, one of the three ASB missioners, also observes a trend reater engagement in clubs. “There 70 clubs on campus, and it gets reto keep track of all of them [as a mmissioner],” Ko said. “There are y clubs that seem to overlap in its

BACK TO THE FUTURE

The new Student Union building opens, featuring a new cafeteria, library, and office.

The school holds its first International Week, founded by teacher Peggy Kahn. International Week allows students to celebrate different cultures and showcase their own.

JASON MUÑOZ

Doc departs from 1985 to 2015.

What history will you make?

2014

1995

7

2015

Westboro Baptist Church pickets at the school to protest Steve Jobs. In response, students and staff organize in a schoolwide Unity Rally to promote acceptance.

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The Spirit Bell is given to the school by the U.S. Navy on permanent loan. The Bell was originally from the U.S.S. Kankakee, a refueling tanker used in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

2011

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Features

The Prospector

October 23, 2015

FUN FACT:

Cupertino’s first diving coach was named Dr. Pool.

INFORMATION FROM CUPERTINO HIGH SCHOOL: A HISTORY BY WES MORSE

Lifestyles

8

SEF DANDIA

As the Indian-American population here continues to grow, their culture, religious functions, and traditions carry through the generations and enrich the “melting pot” of culture in the Silicon Valley. One prime example of this cultural blending is through Dandia, an Indian folk dance using wooden sticks that is easy for anyone to learn and join in. Though it is primarily an Indian tradition from the region of Gujarat, it has recently become popular among people from other cultures. The Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF), a large nonprofit organization that benefits the needlessly blind in India, hosts an annual event every year where thousands of Dandia enthusiasts flood the Santa Clara Convention Center and dance together to loud music for four hours straight. For many, the entertaining event serves as a way to get in touch with one’s roots and customs.

The dance is simple to master, consisting of a four-beat pattern of tapping sticks with a partner followed by an extra beat to move over one spot to a new partner. This continues in a circle or in a line, where the last person turns around and joins the opposite line. Many more complicated variations have also recently become popular among younger patrons, sometimes involving the dancer running across and switching positions with their partner opposite to them.

The dance is symbolically done during the Indian festival of Navratri, meaning “nine nights.” During these nine nights, the nine forms of the Hindu goddess Durga are worshipped.

Almost every region in India celebrates Navratri, though the customs vary greatly by region.

Said Ishaan Shah, an American-born Indian who is currently a senior at Monta Vista High School, “I really enjoy Dandia [because] it’s great exercise and it’s a way to understand my connections to being Gujarati. [Dandia] is one of the unique traditions that Gujaratis bring to America, and I like to connect with other Gujaratis through this kind of event.” For many families, the SEF Dandia event becomes a yearly tradition to reunite with family and friends.

Sophomore Kritika Sharma explains, “I always remember [Dandia] as being really fun because it is an experience where there are so many people that you don’t know, but you have this one bonding activity that you can do with anyone. It

a celebration of indian culture SAAGAR SANGHAVI opinions assistant

NAVRATRI CRASH COURSE “Nava” = nine + “Ratri” = nights

5

October 23, 2015

Navrati is celebrated five times a year, with Sharada Navratri being the most popular.

Garba is a form of dance done in a circle to represent the cyclical belief of time in Hinduism

feminine power,

also known as

“shakti,”

is celebrated during Navratri

doesn’t matter who you come with or where you’re from, you can just have this one night to have fun with a bunch of people.”

For Sharma, this year is her 16th time attending the event.

“Living in an American society, we just get used to not really showing our Indian culture or not having any chance to embrace it. This one event is where you can really let it shine,” she says. “Without it, you wouldn’t be able to be a part of this extraordinary event.”

As the society in Silicon Valley continues to morph into a global community, people from many different cultures as well often go with their friends to these events. This is a prime example of how cultural blending in the Silicon Valley allows people to experience diversity. “It’s really something that everyone from an Indian background can bond over, but it’s also nice that it has spread to different cultures. It’s not weird that people from different ethnicities enjoy this event because it’s open for anyone,” Sharma explains. “ It shows that the world has really evolved to appreciating everyone’s cultures [outside] of just their own. I think it’s really great that all these different ethnicities enjoy this aspect of the Indian culture, and it’s really nice to see how different groups of people want to understand the ways of others.”

Adds Shah, “It’s a good sign that people are understanding each other’s cultures. Whenever you get to experience other cultures, you gain a lot more respect for it.”

While Dandia has traditionally been danced to Indian folk music, it has recently become common to incorporate new Bollywood film songs or popular singles in the repertoire. Though older audiences do not always find this style very appropriate for the type of dance, most people find it to be a lot more fun to participate in .

Due to the large popularity of this event in past years, SEF now hosts three large events during the Navratri time every year, two in San Jose and one in Pleasanton. The events are nearly always a success and bring out more than 20,000 patrons in total, young and old. While organizing this size of an event is no easy feat, it generates a large amount of donations for SEF. Through the rhythmic dance of Dandia, patrons of all ages, origins, and backgrounds come together and engage in a funfilled, dynamic activity. Sticks clash, cultures blend, music sounds, and at the end of the day, everyone comes out with memories to share.

COURTESY OF INDIA.COM

DIET FADS MICHELLE PYKE online editor

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY a look at several popular diet plans

In an ideal world, a fool proof diet would be something short of a miracle, a simple solution to one of many health issues among the general population. However, countless dieting theories are introduced to the public with false pretenses about weight loss. According to U.S. News and World Report, each year, more than $66 billion is spent on the business of dieting in North America alone. Within this highly competitive market, there are few that manage to create a wholesome plan that can be effective long after an original weight goal is reached.

DIET

5BITE DASH DIET GLUTEN FREE DIET

This diet, originally introduced by Dr. Alwin Lewis, attempts to manage weight loss through the amount of food consumed. According to Demand Media, this weight loss plan requires participants to skip breakfast and then, as the title suggests, proceed to eat five bites of any particular kind of food during lunch and dinner. Throughout the day, participants may consume zero-calorie beverages. Although high-calorie options may be chosen along with large bite sizes, this particular kind of diet will amount to roughly 800 calories a day, less than half of the daily amount recommended for adults. Livestrong, a website dedicated to providing diet, nutrition, and fitness tips for a healthier lifestyle, notes that this plan is not intended for long term use; once a certain weight is achieved, participants often revert back to old habits and regain the weight that was lost.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the DASH diet plan aims to prevent and lower high blood pressure through dietary restrictions and exercise.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which contributed to the development of DASH, published a 64 page guide to outline the process, including how many calories should be consumed according to age and activity level, where those calories should come from, and much more. The theory surrounding DASH is that nutrients are crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and that by emphasizing certain categories of food, dietary goals can be reached without sacrificing too much. The DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat/nonfat dairy, as well as whole grains, lean meats, and nuts and beans. Both the American Heart Association and American Society of Hypertension recommend the DASH diet to reduce blood pressure.

Marla Heller, a registered dietitian who has written four bestselling books about the diet, asserted that “The first DASH study showed blood pressure reduction equal to the first-line medications at a daily sodium intake of 3300 mg of sodium.” With a safe and easy-to-follow plan, it is no surprise that the DASH program is ranked fairly high among others.

The gluten-free diet was originally intended to combat celiac disease, an immune reaction to eating gluten that damages the small intestine, and not act as a weight loss strategy. Celiac disease affects roughly 1% of Americans and has few to no symptoms, causing less than 10% of cases to be diagnosed due to consumer ignorance. Yet, twenty nine percent of adult Americans claim that they are trying to cut back on gluten, a risk that Peter H.R. Green, MD, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, claims is unnecessary: “Any time you eliminate whole categories of food you’ve been used to eating, you run the risk of nutritional deficiencies.” The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that half of all carbohydrates in the diet come from whole grain products. Studies show that whole grain foods rich with gluten help lower the risk of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Therefore, gluten may not be the most accurate target when dieting due to its nutritional value for the other 99% of Americans.

In general, diet fads focus on immediate weight loss by placing severe dietary restrictions (that do not follow U.S. standards for nutrient consumption) upon participants. Before attempting to follow such plans, ask a certified health advisor,such as a doctor or a trainer, for suggestions. The internet may promote a variety of diets, but what is considered successful for one individual may not reflect the same results for others.

October 23, 2015

Lifestyles

The Prospector

9

FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES uNPLUGGED or UNGLUED? a review of urban online catering services a week without electronics Over the past few years, many urban areas have started seeing a growing trend towards online catering services. Companies such as GrubHub, online assistant DoorDash, and Munchery deliver both pre-made and PETER MARTIN fresh meals from local restaurants straight to homes. sports editor These services first grew in popularity in densely populated cities such as San Francisco and Chicago but have since branched out to other areas.

One such go-to catering service for Bay Area residents is DoorDash. DoorDash allows customers to order meals online or through an app, which is extremely convenient when time is short or when you just want to relax at home. The variety of options provided by services like Doordash is another perk of ordering delivery. We found many popular restaurants in their selection of restaurants and even discovered new restaurants to try. Services like DoorDash let customers know more about eateries in the area and offer over a hundred different options to satisfy all preferences. Although ordering from DoorDash allowed us to enjoy the comfort of eating at home, the cost of delivery was a definite drawback. We had to pay a delivery fee of six dollars in addition to the already-inflated prices of menu items. Deliveries can take up to 45 minutes, during which we probably would have already gotten a snack.

However, ordering delivery saved us the time and energy that it would have taken to eat out or cook dinner, making the benefits easily worth the money. DoorDash is the perfect service for customers who don’t mind paying a little extra to eat at their favorite restaurant, right at home.

Another catering service on the rise is Munchery, a company that delivers personally-made meals from a variety of cuisines. Each day chefs present at least ten different entrees, along with five “everyday favorites.” They also deliver several sides, desserts, and even breakfasts.

We were able to set the time of delivery ourselves and give specific instructions to the driver as to where to go or where to leave the food. However, the food did not come ready to eat; a majority of the entrees first required heating up in the oven. Preparation time was at least twenty minutes, an unappreciated wait time for delivered food. However, we found that the food was high quality, delicious, and in unexpectedly large portions. That quality didn’t come without its own price though. The entrees themselves weren’t particularly expensive, but adding sides, a salad, or even a dessert quickly added up. Munchery can be hard to recommend with its high prices and long prep time, but the quality of its food more than makes up for it. If you’ve got a little time and aren’t averse to a more expensive meal, Munchery may be the service for you.

The new trend in restaurant delivery services blends convenience and quality for customers who want to experience the feeling of a home-cooked meal without actually having to do the home-cooking themselves. Despite the expenses that come with delivery, the accessibility to all different types of cuisines is an offer too sweet to resist. For those busy with school, work, or just want to be a homebody, don’t worry -- you just found the solution to all your cravings.

ALLISON LO

LILY MARVIN online assistant

I’ll be the first to admit; I’m addicted to my phone. Like any addict, I tell myself I can stop whenever I want. Last week, I decided to put that theory to the test. For seven days I gave up all of my electronics. With the exception of Google Docs and Schoolloop, I was going off the grid.

SATURDAY With a day-long volleyball tournament, I figured my lack of free time would help ease the transition. When our first break came around, I was apprehensive. I was facing my first hour of phonelessness. Figuring my mountain of homework would eat up my free time, I dove in. However, as I boxed the final answer in my math notebook, a sense of dread washed over me. Without the constant chiming of updates, I had been able to focus on my work and finish in record time. Now, with nothing left to do, I would be forced to face the horror of socializing! The only problem… EVERYONE ELSE WAS ON THEIR PHONES!

SUNDAY As I sat down in front of the welcoming glow of my computer screen to face my looming essay deadline, I thought it would be easy. For the first time, I would be writing without the usual distraction of Buzzfeed videos and Facebook messaging. But even without my normal distractions I found it hard to concentrate. Every couple of minutes I would open a blank tab in the hopes that Facebook would magically open and I could guiltlessly pore over Disney princess quizzes.

MONDAY I’ve discovered something essential to my survival: Google. For the past 48 hours, I’ve had a beat stuck in my head, but because I couldn’t Google the artist and learn the lyrics I was stuck with the same four chords over and over again.

When the final bell rang, I couldn’t have been in a bigger hurry to get home.

After spending a solid ten minutes in front of the school wondering why my mother hadn’t shown up, I realized I had forgotten to tell her I needed a ride.

With no means of communication, I was forced to brave the horror of a ten minute walk home.

TUESDAY I was beginning to see the perks of life without my electronics. For the first time since I had started high school, I had nothing to do at 9:30 on a Tuesday night. After flying through my homework, cleaning my room, and reorganizing all my drawers, I found myself lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. Without my normal distractions, I had been alarmingly productive and now had nothing to do. After aimlessly wandering around my house for another hour, I gave up and went to bed.

WEDNESDAY Normally, if I had some down time, I would have spent it setting high scores on Crossy Road, but that was no longer an option. I stopped procrastinating, did homework, and read a book. Before this week, I was always complaining that I had too much homework to do anything, but that’s not true. I was just always wasting my free time on my phone.

THURSDAY Group messages are the bane of my existence! Upon plugging in my phone, the amount of little red notifications nearly gave me a panic attack. Never before had I had 500 unread messages at one time!

FRIDAY (THE LAST DAY!) As I watch the weaklings around me cave to the calling of their cell phones, a sense of superiority washes over me. It has been 168 hours since I last used my phone. I am enlightened! I am zen! I am dying to check my notifications!

When the seventh period bell rings, I snatch my phone from my backpack and guiltlessly glue my eyes to the screen. For the rest of the day I shamelessly scroll through a week’s worth of Instagram posts and YouTube videos. God, I’ve missed this!

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Sports

10

October 23, 2015

BREAKING NEWS CAROLINE GEE flipside assistant

Almost every athlete will get injured sometime during his or her high school career. These injuries can occur suddenly, from a hard fall in a football game or from a twisted ankle, or gradually build up over time as a result of overused muscles or from overexertion. For these injured athletes, sports injuries present huge challenges that are not only painful physically, but are also exhausting mentally.

One athlete familiar with these struggles is senior Danilo Radovic, a cross country runner who injured both knees with patellar tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon below the knee) over the summer. Since patellar tendonitis is primarily due to repetitive overuse, Radovic acknowledges that there were multiple steps he could have taken to prevent his injury. “I might have not been doing the proper procedure to keep my legs...strong and healthy because I sometimes forgot to stretch,” Radovic said. “If I had taken care of my body 100 percent of the time then I most likely wouldn’t have had this problem.”

With his debilitating injury preventing him from being able to run, Radovic instead keeps up his cardio by exercising on a stationary bike at practices. “At times it can be very frustrating when I have to [bike] while watching my teammates run around the track [or go] on road runs,” Radovic said. “To be on the team where running is pretty much the main thing we do, [and] not being able to run can be agitating.”

Along with practice, Radovic attends physical therapy once or twice a week and has learned to be much more diligent in his post-practice routine, stretching and icing for about an hour every day.

While his injury may be holding him back physically, Radovic believes that facing his struggles requires a mental toughness, as well. “I can avoid physical pain by just sitting down and doing nothing, but I choose to keep on going and pushing myself to get better, so it takes a mental tool as well,”

THE

Radovic said about his attitude.

However, Radovic’s frustration over his inability to train is further intensified by the fact that he is a previous CCS qualifier.

“I know that I can reach the level of CCS and reach a level that I’m comfortable with,” Radovic said, “but I can’t physically do that right now.

As challenging as training and performing with an injury can be, some athletes face even more severe injuries that can force them to sit out their entire season.

Two weeks into the season, senior quarterback Anthony Pozzetti broke his left fibula in a football game during a painful tackle. “My injury was very gruesome,” Pozzetti said about the incident. “My foot was just dangling when it happened.”

Now, forced to use crutches, simply moving around from place to place can be a challenge for Pozzetti. “I have a plate in my leg,” Pozzetti said. “I really feel the plate when I roll my ankle around and...it’s annoying, but I’ll get used to it.”

Despite his impediments, Pozzetti still attends practices and games to cheer on his team. However, he admits that being forced to stand on the sideline during games can be frustrating.

“I worked so hard to [get to] this point...from sophomore year.

It’s just hard to see...my team...play without me.” Pozzetti said. “If it’s a loss, I want to be part of it. If it’s a win, I want to be...part of the team.”

As supportive as Pozzetti has been of his team, his teammates have been just as encouraging. “They’ve texted me [writing], ‘Hey, feel better.’ They’ve come to my house [to say], ‘Hey, how you doing.’” Pozzetti said about his teammates. “Someone’s bought me food.”

Throughout all his obstacles, Pozzetti still remains optimistic about his recovery. “I know I’m [going to] be back and the doctor said it wasn’t anything...career ending.” Pozzetti said about his future.

He acknowledges that dealing with his injury is an extremely difficult challenge. “Mentally, it’s just devastating,” Pozzetti said.

“You just emotionally break down. Football is really important to me. It’s hard just to watch...me not help out.”

As painful and emotionally heartbreaking sports injuries

THE EFFECT OF SPOR TS INJURIES ON ATHLETES

can be, junior Emily Pyle is one of the few who has learned to grow from her adversities. An avid field hockey player, Pyle has been facing various knee problems, including tears and sprains, ever since the sixth grade. Said Pyle, “It actually is really frustrating just because I expected it to be better but then it just keeps on coming back.”

Pyle admits that playing with her injury often limits her performance physically, as it is difficult for her to do certain activities as quickly or as easily as her uninjured teammates.

Despite this, Pyle’s team is incredibly supportive and encouraging of her injury. “If some of them see that I’m in pain or if I can’t do anything, they’ll definitely try to tell the coach or ask for more water breaks,” Pyle said. “[My coach] checks in on [me] and makes sure that I’m not always overworking myself.”

Despite the level of her injuries, Pyle is determined to continue playing. “I love sports too much to stop.” Pyle said.

However, as a junior, Pyle acknowledges that her injuries have definitely affected her plans to play in college sports. “I have been considering playing for a D3 school or maybe D2 (the lower the division, the higher the level of competition), but I think that because of these injuries I wouldn’t be able to keep up,” Pyle said. “I think I’m going to try to play just club field hockey in college.”

Throughout all her roadblocks, Pyle believes that she has learned many valuable lessons from her struggles. “It has... made me try to work harder and really take care of myself more than I would have before,” Pyle said about her experience with injuries. “I would prefer not to have these injuries but I think that in the long run they’ve definitely taught me some important things.”

It may be difficult to understand how frustrating and emotionally disheartening the limitations of an injury are to an athlete. But while some injuries arise suddenly, others are preventable by taking simple precautions, such as proper stretching and adequate rest. It’s important for any athlete to remember that even though that extra workout or that sore muscle may seem inconsequential now, pushing through it could lead to detrimental effects in the future.

SNACK BOYS WATER POLO ends LOSING streak SHACK

CATHERINE SEOK photo crew

The team seeks to rebound following a series of losses MARK WANG business manager

AMY ZENG news assistant

Sure, people go to football games to watch players violently tackle each other. But let’s be real, all the hype is at the snack shack. Join Amy and Catherine on this food tasting trip.

This hamburger tasted like a hamburger. I’d say on a scale of McDonald’s to The Counter, it was probably a Burger King. If it was in front of me, I’d take it, and I would be happy to eat it. Otherwise, I don’t think I’d ever wake up at 2 AM craving a hamburger from our football games.

My first glance at the cup of hot chocolate confirmed my greatest fear— the drink was merely another cup of powdered chemicals mixed with lukewarm tap water— an imposter! My recommendation would be to skip the hot chocolate and move on to greener pastures.

Namely, the milkshakes.

Although the teriyaki chicken bowl is not visually appealing, it definitely satisfied my tastebuds. Chicken plopped on a pile of rice may not seem like the best choice, but when you are hungry and cold, it is a lot better than, let’s say, the instant noodles or the nachos.

I don’t know why, but baked potatoes never quite appealed to me as something enjoyable, much less edible. However, because Amy insisted, I gave the potato a second chance. With a load of toppings haphazardly thrown on, I can’t say it wasn’t aesthetically pleasing. But the moment Amy shoved a forkful of potato and a jumble of butter, sour cream, green onions, mild peppers, salsa, bacon bits, and cheese in my mouth, my eyes lit up. And at last I saw the light. In short, the baked potatoes are definitely worth the five dollars.

For the past several years, the varsity boys’ water polo players had not won a game. Not this year. In fact, the team made headlines this year by winning its first game since 2012. However, this wasn’t possible if it weren’t for the newest addition to the team: Sarah Scott.

Scott, a world history teacher and the coach for boys’ water polo team, was proud that the team had won against two schools so far. Furthermore, she reasoned that the team was able to overcome its losing streak by focusing on the fundamental water polo plays.

Said Scott, “We have to think and play smaller so it just comes down to play fundamental water polo, using [our] heads to make up what we lack in size. My philosophy is to stick to the fundamentals. Once you have [the] basics down, [you] can play sound water polo.”

On the other hand, senior and team co-captain Joshua Park mentions how knowing that this was his last year playing water polo motivated him to win at least a game, and he would work as hard as possible to make this year his best. In addition, he added that the team has grown to a level in which they could aim higher.

Said Park, “This year, we’re a lot more coordinated together as a team. It’s not just a person scoring a goal and doing all things; it’s multiple people making the plays. [But] we need to work on ball movement and knowing what to do in a game. I think that comes with [playing] the game a lot.”

As a sophomore and veteran water polo player, David Tung was ecstatic to be a part of the team that broke the losing streak. Like others, he gave his own reasons why the team was able to break a previous losing trend.

“This year, we have a lot more freshmen who are also in club water polo. We also have a new coach and the level of work we have been doing has really helped us develop as players,” Tung said “In practice, we practice really hard on the getting the plays right. Because of all these things that we have improved on, I think we are able to turn around the direction of [our] water polo [team].”

Ultimately, the team was able to find a sense of direction this year by setting a realistic, yet hopeful tone.

Scott boiled down the simplicity of the tone, “Work hard, play work. Be 100% in every single practice. When [we] get into the game and [we] have worked really hard in practice, the game isn’t going to be as hard as practice.”

October 23, 2015

Sports

The Prospector

11

RETURN OF THE ROWDY ROOTERS

An abandoned tradition comes roaring back DANIEL FERTELMEISTER copy editor

With the beginning of the year having come and gone, the school has fallen into its old Friday night habit. Thankful for the end of the week, fans spend the night at the stadium watching the Pioneer football team play, and the die-hards follow the team to In-N-Out after the game. It’s a pattern that the school has seen for years, only this year, there is a twist.

For the first time since 2010, the Rowdy Rooters, the school’s lively red-and-gold student section, is back to cheer on the team on Friday nights. With them, the Rooters are bringing spirit that hasn’t been seen in years and, along with the hoards of students that are now joining the crowd, slowly turning the football stadium into a place where no opposing team wants to play.

The brainchild of this year’s ASB class, the return of the Rooters has been spearheaded by athletic commissioners Armaan Soltani, Quinten Pabon, and Solin Piercey. Asked why they wanted to bring back the Rooters, Pabon said: “I felt that the school’s spirit at sports games needed to improve in general, so I got together with my other athletic commissioners and proposed [the Rooters], a spirit group that was intended to hype up the crowds at athletic games.”

The commissioners were quick to get a group together, and they met for the first time at a brunch meeting on the day of the Pioneer football team’s first home game.

From the moment the ball was kicked to start the game, the Rooters made their presence felt.

With the bleachers full of chanting fans, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead and electrified the crowd. “[The first game] was insane. I loved it and the boys said they loved it and it meant a lot to them,” Senior Nicki Ezatagha said.

Senior Rohan Pandit, who was sitting in the Rooters section as a fan, also noticed the impact, saying, “It creates a climate of community and a sense of belonging to other students on campus. It is more exclusive than just being a Tino student and going to a football game, but for that reason, I feel people are more excited. They’re excited about the impact that we have.”

Although the leaders of the group ran into a few issues at the beginning while calling the chants, often struggling to yell over the crowd noise, they were eventually able to successfully get everyone chanting together. Said Ezatagha, “We had some trial and error with calling out chants because you’re not allowed to use anything but your voice to lead cheers according to CCS rules. But with help, everyone started cheering and it was great and so cute and spirited.”

Once they got going, the Rooters wouldn’t be stopped, switching from chant to chant, from “Tino, you know” to “I believe that we will win”, with dozens in between. Those on the field felt the impact right away. Senior Joseph Luo, a captain of Tino’s varsity football team, noticed a difference when he played for the first time in front of the rejuvenated crowd. “People are starting to talk about

COURTESY OF AAKASH ADESARA, TINO PHOTOCGRAPHY CLUB

ROWDY ROOTERS IN ACTION | The Rowdy Rooters cheer on the school’s football team during the Homecoming game on Sept. 25, 2015

our games and the attendance is definitely increasing. I feel like it makes the games better. I love having a loud student section behind me when I play at home. It hypes me up and makes me play better,” Luo said.

The team’s head coach, Chris Oswald, also saw the change it brought to the games, saying “They’re all truly pulling together. This is really peers cheering for each other to be successful. And you get to know people that way too. Not everyone knows everybody on the basketball team or the football team, but when you go cheer for them, all of a sudden it becomes a reciprocal thing. You start to say, ‘Wow I really appreciate you being here.’”

At the Homecoming game, the Rooters again came out full force, this time with an even bigger and louder crowd, and helped the team blow out Prospect for its second win of the season. The fans in the stands knew they’d had an impact on the game. Said Pandit, “The energy [was] insane. The players feel our presence, and they play better because of it. They are proud to represent Tino. They want to win. They know they are supported.”

With three home games left on the football team’s schedule, including the annual Helmet Game, the Rooters will have plenty of opportunities to help the Pioneers get some more victories onto their record. After that, the group will move on to cheer on the school’s teams in basketball, wrestling, and other sports. And as they continue attending games and cheering players on, The Rowdy Rooters are slowly changing the school’s sports culture, making sure that visiting teams know that there are more Pioneers out there than just the players on the roster.

For more information and interviews, check out: http://www.chsprospector.com/return-of-the-rooters

Flip Side

October 23, 2015

12

OCTOBER IN PHOTOS JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

FASHION CLUB | Fashion club president Danielle Nagtalon wheels around a clothing rack for the club’s first look book

FIELD HOCKEY | Senior Solin Piearcy defends her turf at the Field Hockey game against Prospect

JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

JASON MUNOZ

CAPTURE THE FLAG WEEK | Senior Allan Wu plays for his team “Splash Squad” at the first game on Oct. 19, 2015

SPEECH AND DEBATE | A group of freshmen poses after their victory at the tournament hosted by the school

In the Maules Forest of western Switzerland, there are rumors of a man wearing a gas mask and military uniform haunting the area.

Termed Le Loyon, the man has been reported by the locals everyday, for the past ten years, walking the same path through the woods. He does not speak, and if he ever sees someone, he just stops, stares, and walks away. Sometimes he carries flowers on his usual haunt through the woods. Several speculate that he might be mentally unstable and therefore dangerous. Others believe he may be a survivalist, preparing for a supposed “apocolypse”. Local authorities have attempted to contact him in the hopes of assuaging the villagers fear, but so far have been unsuccessful.

Hoi a Baciu, a forest in Transylvania, has inspired many scary tales and campfire stories. Its trees are bent in twisted shapes, like a horror movie setting, and visitors have returned screaming, claiming to have burns and rashes all over their bodies. Some claim that they skipped a few hours of time while foraging through Hoia Baciu.

The locals refuse to enter this forest, and rightly so, as many rumors of ghosts and voices have traveled around. Back in 1968, Alexandru Sift took a photo in the forest of what many people believe was a UFO. Another time, it was rumored that a Shepherd entered the forest with his 200 sheep, and not a trace of them was ever recovered.

Despite the cultural and geographical boundries that separate most areas of the world from one another, the human tendency to whisper stories around the campfire is one that binds all humans together. Here is a small collection of those spooky stories, great for sharing with friends in the dark this Halloween.

The residents of the Kalachi Village in Kazakhstan undergo quite the odd daily sleeping schedule. Each day, villagers of Kalachi suddenly fall asleep and cannot seem to wake up by any means for at least a few hours. Some take days to wake up. A significant portion of these sleeping villagers have complained of memory loss, vertigo, and nausea upon awakening. Naturally, these villagers are afraid of dying in their sleep. Doctors have found many other health problems in these villagers that seem to be connected, such as brain dysfunction and strokes. While scientists found high levels of carbon monoxide in the village in 2015, there is still no official explanation for the sickness.

COMPILED BY RISHI NAIR INFO. FROM LISTVERSE.COM

NEXT MONTH: NOVEMBER Challenge Day

Veterans Day (No School)

CAHSEE testing

Fall Sports Awards Night

Tuesday, November 3 Tuesday-Wednesday, November 3-4

Fall Play

Thursday-Friday, November 6-7 Thursday-Friday, November 13-14

Wednesday, November 11 Monday, November 23

Turkey Trot

BREAKING THE STATUS QUO flipside editor

AROUND the WORLD

MAITHILEE KANTHI

MELISSA SILVA

URBAN LEGENDS The village of Yangsi in China’s Sichuan Province has long piqued the interest of many. It has only 80 inhabitants, about half of which are dwarfs. This is highly unusual, as scientists have confirmed that only about 1 in 20,000 people experience irregular growth as such. According to legend, an unknown disease befell the residents of Yangsi more than 60 years ago. The disease mostly affected young children, who then ceased to grow, becoming dwarfs. The villagers at one point believed forces of evil had entered their lives and that they were being punished by unhappy ancestors. The Chinese government has forbidden the public from entering the village.

KITE RUNNER | CAT actors Greg Robbins, Jack Robinson, and Didem Arslanoglu perform The Kite Runner for VMC students

Tuesday, November 24

I am Latina. I’m proud of my ethnicity and my accomplishments. What I didn’t realize immediately when I came to Tino, after being in the same small school for ten years, was that, for the first time, I had to build an academic reputation.

Although the U.S., as a whole, is comprised mainly of white, Hispanic, and black people, the majority becomes the minority in Cupertino, with well over half of the population being Asian. From the point of view of a Latina who has lived in this area her whole life, I’ve noticed that there is a set stereotype that other ethnicities are academically inferior to Asians. Although I generalize when giving this opinion, I do realize that this is a stereotype not held by everyone.

Many times, I find myself in interesting situations where people assume that I can’t perform to the “Asian standard” prevalent in this area. When I tell people I play piano, I’m usually presented with a look of stupefaction, followed by a “WHAT? YOU PLAY PIANO? NO, YOU’RE JOKING!” At the track and field team party my freshman year, our coach handed out two academic scholarship awards, one of which I received. After giving out the first award to the other recipient, he asked the team to guess for whom the second one was. After exhausting the list of Asian people present, the team eventually began to consider the others.

Although these examples may seem trivial, I must say that the extent to which discrimination is shown in certain situations can be hurtful. I’d like to take this as a chance to remind everyone to not judge others based on unfounded perceptions one may have regarding people of a certain race or ethnicity.

The important thing, I’ve learned, is to not let the comments I’ve received stop me from thriving academically. Although it may be harder for a minority to succeed given the things they hear, it is important to not let societal expectations cloud potential.

As Cupertino grows as a diverse community of potential leaders and innovators, it is crucial for students to forgo the racial stereotypes that we’ve grown up with and respect others based off of merit -- not skin tone or neighborhood. Students all have much to offer, and our abilities, whether discovered or dormant, should be fostered as much as possible.